Dialing card for telephones



Nov. 11, 1947. v A. MUTHER 2,430,530

DIADING CARD fOR TELEPHONES Filed Sept. 8, 1945 mama an. 21'n29 Wvavroe ADOZP/l Marx/2 OLJLHL Patented Nov. 11, 1947 time DIALING CARD FOR TELEPHONES Adolf Muther, Zurich, Switzerland Application September 8,- 1945, Serial No. 615,195 In Switzerland September 9, 1944 1 Claim. 1

The telephone is becoming increasingly more popular in modern business life. The practical automatic dialing sets permit the direct dialing of telephone connections to territories at an increasingly greater distance inside the country. The memory of those who wish to telephone however, is often put to a hard test. It is not everybody that can memorize a series of five to nine figures read in the telephone book, until the number has been dialed. Frequently hesitations occur, because the figures have become muddled while memorizing same. In view of the fact, that one hand has to dial, and the other hold the receiver, the eye very often cannot find the desired number at once among the jumble of letters in the telephone register. The dialing must therefore be frequently interrupted, and the number looked up afresh. The same is the case if the number is engaged, or if a wrong connection has been obtained. The results are a waste of time and vexations. It is a fact, that even a series of only six figures in frequently established connections are generally rather difficult to retain.

In order to remedy this drawback, the invention provides for a card, as a means for dialing the telephone connections with the automatic dialing telephone set. This card being provided with a slit, extending from the lower edge obliquely upwards towards the left side, for the purpose of inserting same between the hole dial and the actual dial of the dial system equipment up to the striking point of the slit end of the dial system equipments axis, thereby covering the figures of the dial, furthermore spaces are provided on the card, destined to be visible in the holes of the hole dial, when the card is inserted be tween the stable actual dial and the revolving hole dial of the dialing telephonic set, whereby the spaces mentioned, are to take up characters indicating in which succession the holes of the hole dial must be used for dialing a certain subscribers number, thereby making it possible to dial a telephone number without having to memorize anything.

On the card, a space may furthermore be foreseen for entering the name, address and the telephone number of the subscriber. For the purpose of expediency, the card is formed in such a manner, that when it is inserted between the hole dial and the number dial, it protrudes beyond same, so that the card by means of its own overweight, is maintained in a correct position on the right-hand side; otherwise it would be taken along, owing to the very slight rubbing, when the hole dial returns to its original position. The slit has been advantageously arranged in such a manner, that the falling down of the 'card round the hole dial axis as revolving point,

card may be rounded oil, conform to the hole dial,

in order to economize weight as much as possible on this side.

On the drawing such a card has been represented as an example. for the execution of the object of the invention. The size as regards the exterior dimensions is practically that of a post card. Another size can however, be chosen, a is the slit for. the dial system axis, b shows the point where the card hits the finger strikingpoint of the dial system equipment, 0 is the space for the name, address and telephone number of the subscriber; the space cl may be used for advertisement purposes or notes, or the internal numbers of different departments of an enterprise may be noted thereon. An attractive possibility consists therein, to have on the telephone card of a single subscriber the photograph (and the name) of the person using the phone of the subscriber called up, whereby the illusion is at the same time called forth of speaking directly with the person concerned, especially in the event of the respective person having been photographed at the telephone. The back side of the card may eventually be used for registering the calls, or for notes concerning telephone conversations. A card index of a number of such cards may be formed for frequently occurring telephone connections. In order to find a desired card quickly, an alphabetical register is advantageous, eventually with sub-alphabetical letters. This record may be formed by the totality of the cards forming the index, whereby the upper edge of each card is graduated, stamped out, or cut out. As an example what a filled in card looks like, we shall assume that a subscriber has the telephone number 2'7'7129. On the card is mentioned the figure: 1 in the 2 circle (figure 2 of the stable, covered dial) 2 in the 7 circle (figure 7 of the stable, covered dial) 3 in the 7 circle (figure 7 of the stable, covered dial) 3 4 in the 1 circle (figure 1 of the stable, covered dial) 5 in the 2 circle (figure 2 of the stable, covered dial) 6 in the 9 circle (figure 9 of the stable, covered dial) In the event of toll calls, where direct connectionis made, figures up to 9 may often occur. Instead of with figures, the succession may also be indicated by letters. It may happen that in the same hole, two or three, in very rare cases even more figures or signs are placed, accordin to whether a certain figure of a telephone number has to be repeated several times. In single cases, it is possible that the name of the person called up, i. e. the letters of his or her name are distributed in the holes in such a manner, that the using of the latter in the correct succession, whereby the name is spelled out in the mind, will result in the desired connection. Taking for example that the subscribers name, with the number 277129, is Snider, then: S would be in the 2, N in the 7, I in the '7, D in the 1, E in the 2 and R in the 9 circle.

For the businessman this card signifies a new means of making propaganda for clients. He will have the poss'bility of obtaining cheaply a larger edition of the normal telephone card for his own telephone number, which will enable him to send same to his present and future clients, as a means for an effective propaganda. The buyers, who, in fact, are chiefly the ones that call up, will therefore receive telephone cards from all directions, thereby accumulating to a practical card-index, which would be supplemented by cards prepared 4 by themselves of the numbers frequentl to be called up.

I claim:

A device for facilitating the operation of an automatic telephone dial system having a fixed dial with indicia thereon, and a rotary dial with holes therein which are located directly above said indicia when the rotary dial is at rest, said rotary dial being rotatable from said rest position to a striking point, said device comprising a card having a lower edge and a slit formed in the card and extending inwardly at an acute angle from said lower edge, said slit being of Width sufiicient to insert a portion of the card between said fixed dial and said rotary dial and to cause said card portion to completely cover the indicia upon said fixed dial, said slit extending between the center of rotation of said rotary dial and the striking point thereof when said card is inserted between said dials, said card having characters inscribed therein to indicate the sequence of dialing of a subscribers number, said characters being the only indicia visible in said rest position through those holes of the rotary dial which are to be operated for said dialing.

ADOLF MUIHER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,541,786 Burgess June 16, 1925 1,906,655 Stoeger May 2, 1933 

